Switzerland to transfer another $300 million Abacha loot to Nigeria – Minister

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The government of Switzerland is prepared to transfer to the Nigerian government, another $300 million recovered from the family of former military ruler, Sani Abacha, foreign minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, announced Monday.

The money is part of an estimated $5 billion stolen and stashed in foreign accounts by the late dictator.

Nigeria has in the last 10 years received over $1 billion from the Swiss and American governments, but there are growing concerns past administrations misused the huge sum.

PREMIUM TIMES reported in December 2015 how former finance minister, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, with the approval of former President Goodluck Jonathan, authorised the diversion of at least N61.4 billion ($300 million and £5.5 million) from funds recovered from Mr. Abacha, to the Office of the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki, few weeks before the 2015 presidential election.

The former minister said the money, which was not approved by the National Assembly, was meant for purchase of military equipment for the fight against Boko Haram.

The money is believed to be part of at least $2.1 billion slush fund later distributed by Mr. Dasuki to politicians ahead of the polls. An ongoing investigation into the scandal as led to the indictment of several high profile figures.

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Top News

Contrary to claims by President Muhammadu Buhari that former Head of State, the late General Sani Abacha never stole, former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed that he left over N287bn in the national treasury, made up of $2bn, £100m and N10bn in cash and property, being the loot recovered from the late dictator, General Sani Abacha.

According to Obasanjo, the funds were paid into the treasury through the Central Bank of Nigeria before he handed over power to the late Umar Musa Yar’Auda on May 29, 2007.

Obasanjo’s disclosure was contained in the Vol. II of his memoir, My Watch and reviewed by Punch.

On the memoir, Obasanjo disclosed, “In total, by the time I left government in May 2007, over $2bn and £100m had been recovered from the Abacha family abroad, and well over N10bn in cash and properties locally. All were paid to the public treasury through the Central Bank.

Chuks

With this information Dumbo set up a reloot committee to make sure that money disappears from the Central Bank without trace. The committee reported back ‘mission accomplished’.

Burbank

LOLz.

Julius

lol

abodes_124

That’s right. In Nigeria we declare the man who stole the money innocent of the crime. We even want to make his son who did the physical stealing of the funds the governor of a State. Finally we then start arresting those who the stolen money [ that was not stolen !] was returned to until they say how they spent it. Who dares allege that we are certifiable lunatics ?

IZON Redeemer

waiting fopr the buharimice to respond-

Burbank

Waiting for PDP e-rats to counter.

Chuks

Thank God Dumbo is out. He would have hijacked the money in the aircraft before it touches Nigeria, or sacked the CBN governor if he will be a hindrance. Dumbo would have relooted the money before 6 am tomorrow and use it to pay for more verbal assignments to PDP gang of thieves.

Burbank

“he would have hijacked the money in the aircraft before it touches Nigeria”
He would have hijacked the money and the aircraft will still parked in the Swiss airport.

no_be_lie

oboy!!!
no be small pepper this bros kpake O!
he be wan rob us die, anyway na God win

The good thing is the present government is known for her accountability and transparency.
Hopefully the money would be used judiciously for the benefit of all. I wish that all the looted cash stashed in foreign account by this sleazy government officials would be returned to our coffers soon.

Mayo

Doesn’t this make nonsense of Buhari’s statement that Abacha was not corrupt/did not steal any money?

Amir

Buhari was right. Compared to what Jona did, Abacha is a saint.

NoSpinEd

What?

Abiboss

Yes o. Don’t you prefer housemaid who stole your 500 naira to armed robbers who came to your neighbor’s house. I betcha you will not mind that much if someone stole your yam and apologized compared to one who stole your retirement money and used the money to oppress you. Nigeria case is like that. It is big thieves vs. small thieves. Pick your poison.

Burbank

Good comparison.
Except those armed robbers who came to his neighbor’s house also came to his house and robbed him and his maid’s N500.

Buhari described the allegations of looting against Abacha as ‘baseless,’ because according to him, ‘ten years after Abacha’s death, those allegations remain unproven because of lack of facts.’

Well, recent events proved otherwise and maybe he made those comments out of ignorance or out of respect for the dead.
Technically, it does not change anything- he made an uninformed statement (or should I say informed due to extenuating circumstances) and no need for us to crucify him for that.

Burbank

Very appropriate comment.

Mayo

Actually, that is not true. At the time Buhari was making that comment, the swiss and some other countries had returned some of Abacha’s loot to the country and this had been officially announced by OBJ and his Finance Minister. Buhari made those comments purely on a partisan basis. It is the same way that when Adamawa state house of assembly decided to impeach Nyako claiming he had fraudlently enriched himself Buhari’s response was that PDP was trying to remove governors because they had decamped to APC. He did not care about whether Nyako was guilty of the crime or not.

I’m bringing this up so that you know Buhari is to a certain level like other Nigerian politicians who will protect their friends/associates when the chips are down.

Burbank

Gbam

Julius

Thank you. Same here with prayer !

Gugurus Ekpa

Switzerland is encouraged to return this money after seeing that Buhari is serious about fighting corruption.

Otile

Left from Imam Buhari Abacha’s loots should have remained hidden. Fighting kwarupsion my foot.

Abiboss

You have big problem. You can only move forward until you realize your problem.

Otile

I have problem understanding yoruba sycophancy for an illiterate Fulani herdsman.

Burbank

I have no problem understanding your sycophancy for perpetrators of corruption

Burbank

Your feet are kwarupted.

Otile

Left for Imam Buhari Abacha’s loots should have remained hidden. Fighting kworuption my foot.

Gugurus Ekpa

Otile,

You diapers are soaked and your pacifiers are getting worn out as i see that you are now teething.

And your mouth is sewn with needle and thread that you cannot tell Switzerland yourself?

Otile

Shame on Mohamed Buhari, he swore by his uncircumcised that Abacha stole no money.

Burbank

Jonathan gave Abacha a national award for outstanding service.

Julius

Ha bro, I see otile sniffing your anus. Let him have a lick, thats what he likes. All his and his losers family woes in life is Yorubas fault. Funny moron.

Burbank

Racist bigots like him only blame everyone else for their self-inflicted injuries.

Julius

Throughout their lives. If it rains too much in his hell holes, he blames the Yorubas. I’ve come to the conclutions that he must have failed in his life.

Otile

Shame on Mohamed Buhari, he swore by his uncircumcised dick that Abacha stole no money.

Reason-ability

You were born uncouth and untrained with no home training. Shame on you. Do you have a father alive or did you even have one?

Burbank

LWKMD…he’s dickless.

Otile

You know very well that the ‘dickless’ man is your egbon Maria the transvestite.

Otile

Are saying that Imam Mohamed Buhari did not swear by his dick that Abacha stole no money or that he(Imam) is not uncircumcised? Have you seen his dick? If you saw it with your own eyes, give detailed description.

Akiika

Dig out Abacha’s corpse, bulalah it until it shred out! GEJ was out to beat Abacha’s record.

FreeNigeria

How can one person steal $5b? These Nigerians are truly truly truly sick in their head

zygote

In dollars not Dobra, Sao Tome and Principe ($1=14,350 Dobra)

Ashibogu

With what is coming out of Nigeria even Satan will be afraid to give his money to Nigerian leaders for safe keeping.

Burbank

Satan now having medical appointment overseas for high fever; Nigeria is too hot with Buhari in Aso Rock.

Premium Times successfully diverted the narrative to its targeted scapegoat: Goodluck Jonathan. Can’t we have professional journalism in this country? The dumb “journalist” who wrote this piece can’t even mention that this contradicts with PMB’s claims that Abacha did not loot. “Journalists” in the pockets of politicians!

share Idea

Everybody knows what PT is doing but they can only do it for a while even die-hard supporters of this administration like Falana has started wailing…Nigeria we hail thee

Burbank

And Jonathan gave Abacha a national award for outstanding service to the country!

okenwa

Award was given to him as once a nigeria leader and not because he stole from nigeria.

Burbank

So Hitler should get an award too for being a national leader

Burning Spear

NIGERIAN MILITARY IS SEEN AS LOSING SUPPORT
By CLIFFORD D., UK. Published: May 1, 1984 [A MUST READ]

LAGOS, Nigeria, April 29— Four months after seizing power, Nigeria’s military leaders appear to be suffering an erosion of popular support.
Last Dec. 31, Maj. Gen. Mohammed Buhari led a group of young officers in a coup against the civilian Government of President Shehu Shagari, saying the takeover was necessary to save Nigeria, Africa’s richest and most populous nation, from economic collapse.

The military intervention appeared at the time to enjoy enthusiastic support from a broad range of Nigeria’s population.
Many intellectuals argued that the corruption and incompetence of the Shagari administration had made drastic action both necessary and inevitable. Traders, merchants and people in the streets welcomed the soldiers and looked forward to a quick improvement in their standard of living.

Growing Disappointment
Recently, however, there seems to be growing disappointment with both the military Government’s approach and pace.
”Since coming to power, this Government has not found a single problem,” said Dr. Olu Onagoruwa, a prominent lawyer and a longtime opponent of the Shagari administration.
”But it has managed to alienate the judiciary, the press, labor and students – all the groups that supported it just a few months ago.”
Critics of the military Government point out that it has yet to present its budget.–

Loan negotiations with the International Monetary Fund continue but Western economists say that Nigeria and the I.M.F. appear to be further apart now than during the final days of the Shagari administration.
Early indications that General Buhari would agree to devalue Nigeria’s currency, liberalize trade and reduce domestic petroleum subsidies have so far not materialized.

Prices Have Climbed.
In addition, prices for food and other essential commodities, which fell in the first weeks after the coup largely because of the presence of soldiers in the marketplaces, have now returned to or exceeded their levels before the coup. Unemployment has been rising, and many of the imported raw materials and spare parts needed to keep factories running have been lacking.

BankyMons

Yes. We are now in the second missionary journey led by Buhari! Buhari is a cursed man and anything he touches remains cursed! Unfortunately there is no IBB this time around to remove Buhari like he was removed in 1985. It is going to be a very tough 4 years for Nigerians.

Burbank

“It is going to be a very tough 4 years for Nigerians.”
Very tough times for Nigerians that steal.

BankyMons

You are a paid APC troll. Just to let you know that everyone on the blogosphere knows you. Shame on you i-i-ot!

Burbank

Just to let you know that everyone on the blogosphere knows me.

Otile

Of course by your yorubastard sentiments everybody knows you.

Tunsj

You always inject this crazy stuff in your comments. I’m sure you are jealous of the Yorubas.

Burbank

Wrong.
By my little contributions in Nigeria’s gallant war against corruption, be it from APC, PDP or from anyone.

Tunsj

Please do not reply that clown. I can see that he is using my exact words in opposite direction “You are a paid PDP troll”.

abodes_124

God drives away flies for a tail less cow. It has happened 3 times before. It can happen again.

Bunduma Mohammed

Ngozi Okonjo is a criminal trained by World Bank and posted to Nigeria in order to distroy its economy. She is highly irresponsible and criminal

BankyMons

Shut your gob up you i-d-ot! You have an internet connection and mobile and that doesnt mean you have clue! The northerners who ruled Nigeria for 55 years built the country right?

Burbank

Now this is one transfer from Switzerland that will NOT be used to buy ads on AIT or This Day.

Otile

Wrong epoch. ITTgate happened under Mashood which led him to dream of taking power from your Fulani masters which cost him his life. Don’t distort.

Burbank

Topic’s on Swiss money transfers.
Try to be relevant.

Julius

Or distributed to Pa Falae and others !

Burbank

Gbam

Julius

True talk bro.

mr osita mbagu

there is nothing that you will do for people and they will get satisfied who is these Housa criminal who is insulting okonjiwuala

thank god that she is a criminal trained by world bank not Nigeria central bank

sammyctu ode

The Swiss should have all the confidence that when they transfer this money and others, idiots like jonathan and okonjo-iweala will not be there to misuse it. Under Mr. Integrity called PMB, Our well trusted President will spend it well, give all the accounts to Nigerians. HOWEVER, WORLD BANK MUST HAVE NO BUSINESS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE MONEY. THESE FOOLS AT WB ARE ALL SMALL BOYS & GIRLS WHO ARE NOT EXPERIENCED AND WOULD COME TO NIGERIA TO SAY NONESENSE. IF WB IS INVOLVED, HALF OF THE MONEY WILL GO TO WB POCKET ON USELESS CONSULTANCY WORK AND TRAVELING EXPENSES

okenwa

Bros, the same well trusted president said abacha is not a thief and did not steal kobo from nigeria. Bros anybody who protects a thief is a thief.

Burning Spear

So all those abacha looted funds repatriated back to nigeria with the help of those foreign govts were just cinderella stories to the ears of Buhari abi? I have always told people buhari extremely confused and extra ordinarily clueless about anything in and about governance. Already over 5.6 is missing in NNPC–Buhari as Minister cannot account for the money-
Imagine a so called incorruptible saint saying Abacha was not corrupt . If he wasn’t corrupt, then were did all the repatriated loots of Abacha came from? Donation from his family? What a classic Hypocrite. Very easy for him to accuse GEJ’s administration of corruption and embezzlement yet difficult for him to admit that Abacha’s regime was corrupt.
Now we can see why Buhari was selective during he’s so called fight against corruption as a military dictator. He selectively jailed individuals he regarded as “Enemies” of imaginary corruption and looked the other way when he’s friends and family members were involved.
Well, I always knew him to be totally corrupt himself. All this acts, of claiming poor and begging for loans from banks is nothing but a ruse. Buhari is not POOR as he wants people to believe. Given the 4b mansion he has in Abauja-the man is only a miser–Added to the 300,000 After all, birds of the same feathers (Buhari and Abacha) stroll together. I won’t be surprised to hear pa Buhari say IBB, Amaechi, Fashola, Fayemi Dambazua, Prof Yakubu of INEC, SYLVA and Tinubu are not corrupt.

Julius

This will not be looted. I can say that without fear or contradictions !!

Kickboxer

Yessoo…you are technically correct, after all Brainless Buhari served under SAINT Abacha and vowed that Abacha did not loot. Curious if brainless Buhari would be told about batch of Abacha loot $300m and if he would TECHNICALLY apologize to Nigerians for enabling SAINT ABACHA

In another news Nigeria is now TECHNICALLY A SHARIA STATE in which Aso Rock is the technical sharia court with brainless Imam Buhari as the accuser, prosecutor, juror, judiciary, legislature, police, army….

Very Proud Oily IZON Redeemer

was buhari able to account for the 5.6b dollars left in NNPC-WAS HE ABOT TO ACCOUNT FOR THE 2.8—–WAS IT NOT SYLVA WHO PAID HIS 27 FOR THE NOMINATION FORM FOR APC -CONSCIENCE IS AN OPEN SORE ONLY THE TRUTH CAN HEAL IT—IBO MAN

breaking news

Muhammadu Buhari’s private security aides, were at the weekend, arrested at the Afao-Ekiti country home of the Ekiti State Governor, Mr Ayodele Fayose for presenting themselves as staff of the Office of the National Security Adviser, ONSA, with influence over the report of the military panel set up to investigate alleged involvement in partisan politics by some soldiers and officers during the 2014/2015 governorship election conducted in some states such as Ekiti, Osun, Rivers and Akwa-Ibom.
This is what you get when a president of country, in order to fight his perceived political foes and stifle opposition, chooses to bastardized classified information by throwing it open for public consumption, then, con men would study the situation and take advantage of the anarchy.
The two men, Benedict Ola Idega and Abdulsalami Leader H. (As a matter of fact, these are not Igbo names) claimed that they already had the preliminary report of the military panel and that with the cooperation of the governor, they could manipulate the final report if necessary.
They also said the army panel report was targeted at some top army officers that the Federal Government wanted to punish.
Governor Fayose, who was suspicious of the men’s real intentions, had informed the State Commissioner of Police and Director of the State Security Service, with the Police Commissioner already putting men of the State Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, on standby.
The two men, in a meeting with the governor presented what they called a photocopy of page three of the preliminary report to show that they meant business. The purported copy of the page three bore the Nigerian Army’s logo.
After turning copy of page three of the purported preliminary report, the governor gave the impression that he was satisfied with all that they said and asked them to wait in his waiting room for him to show appreciation.
He then called in the Commissioner of Police and SSS Director, who in turn asked their men to move in and arrest the two men.
The identity card found on Abdulsalami Leader H bore “GMB SECURITY” and it was stated at the back that he (Abdulsalami) act as security for President Muhammadu Buhari with Number 34, Lobitto Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja as issuer’s address and 088133636478 and 08057010255 as telephone numbers. Benedict Ola Idega was with the identity card bearing Federal Capital Development Authority, FCDA.—-

Burning Spear

So all those abacha looted funds repatriated back to nigeria with the help of those foreign govts were just cinderella stories to the ears of Buhari abi? I have always told people buhari extremely confused and extra ordinarily clueless about anything in and about governance. Already over 5.6 is missing in NNPC–Buhari as Minister cannot account for the money-
Imagine a so called incorruptible saint saying Abacha was not corrupt . If he wasn’t corrupt, then were did all the repatriated loots of Abacha came from? Donation from his family? What a classic Hypocrite. Very easy for him to accuse GEJ’s administration of corruption and embezzlement yet difficult for him to admit that Abacha’s regime was corrupt.
Now we can see why Buhari was selective during he’s so called fight against corruption as a military dictator. He selectively jailed individuals he regarded as “Enemies” of imaginary corruption and looked the other way when he’s friends and family members were involved.
Well, I always knew him to be totally corrupt himself. All this acts, of claiming poor and begging for loans from banks is nothing but a ruse. Buhari is not POOR as he wants people to believe. Given the 4b mansion he has in Abauja-the man is only a miser–Added to the 300,000 After all, birds of the same feathers (Buhari and Abacha) stroll together. I won’t be surprised to hear pa Buhari say IBB, Amaechi, Fashola, Fayemi Dambazua, Prof Yakubu of INEC, SYLVA and Tinubu are not corrupt.

Comfortkay

The Swiss is a fantastic country, they return money that belongs to Nigeria and why is our colonia master the British are dragging their feet in returning stolen money in their country that belongs to Nigeria. Anyway if you will not give me visa to your country for saying the truth, l would keep my country Nigeria.

Sparzo

The brits are notorious for not handing back what does not belong to them.

favourtalk

GEJ is the second man that stole after this man in Nigeria and I am very sure that all the loots from his tenure will be recovered very soon also. Nigeria is now getting things right and we will surely get it right finally. Change has come